ROYAL Princess - no Central Staircase a Royal Pain

[Rick-cruiser]

Of all the features reviewed on this ship, having no central staircase for passengers between decks 7 through 18 bothers me the most.. Maybe even enough to make us not book.. Time is always a factor for us on a ship... going from one activity/show to another..... to/from the stateroom - International Cafe - dinner - casino - pool - Atrium - getting off/on ship - shore excursions - etc.. We don't like to use / wait for elevators (especially going down).... so can you imagine having a stateroom near the middle of the ship.. and having to walk ALL THE WAY either to the back or front of the ship... then BACK to the middle...... just to go up/down?. What a Royal Pain (no pun intended) that will be.. It bothers me that they would consciously and deliberately not put a stairway for passengers in the middle of ship... a location that would garner the most usage - both for passenger traversing and safety.. I, personally, believe this is a serious and significant design flaw... in my opinion, anyway.

 

- Rick

 

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[Pam in CA]

Don't worry about the safety issue. There are inside stairwells normally used by crew. I agree with you that often, it's a pain to wait for an elevator and I usually walk down the stairs instead of taking the elevator.

[antsp]

We very often book a restricted view on deck 8 midship, very handy to nip down one flight of stairs to all the evening action. By not having this full stairwell what has Princess actually achieved.

[jean s]

I wonder what the actual reason was for eliminating this staircase. Considering the fact that the Grand had the same situation and then it was changed on Star and Golden.

[antsp]

I would imagine the Regal will be built the same, i cant see it being a design mistake, it must be a financial decision

[Pam in CA]

I would imagine the Regal will be built the same, i cant see it being a design mistake, it must be a financial decision

It's always a financial reason. :) "Follow the money."

[OCruisers]

At least no one can fuss about people taking an elevator who appear to be able to use the stairs. :rolleyes:

[rkacruiser]

Be thankful there are at least elevators in the central section, at least according to the deck plan.

 

Major design flaw of Celebrity's Solstice-Class vessels are no stairs or elevators in the mid-section of the ships.

[tothemall&beyond]

We very often book a restricted view on deck 8 midship, very handy to nip down one flight of stairs to all the evening action. By not having this full stairwell what has Princess actually achieved.

 

The obstructed views on Deck 8 midship always our favorite, too.

People pay top dollar for midship cabins and now they have to walk all the way forward or aft to avoid the elevator crush?

It was bad enough that they eliminated all outside non-balcony cabins, but also eliminating the stairwell, knowing that was a mistake with the Grand? We're not happy...

[tothemall&beyond]

It's always a financial reason. :) "Follow the money."

 

"Totally". :)

[JimmyVWine]

It's always a financial reason. :) "Follow the money."

 

Not saying that you are wrong, but it is hard to see where the cost savings are. Materials? The void of the stairwell is now filled with something, so it can't be that. Savings during cruises? Can't be that either as it doesn't cost anything to "operate" a stairwell. Placement of revenue-generating venues where the stairs would have been? No. They didn't do that as the elevators are still in place. This really is a quizzical decision especially if one tries to link it to financial considerations.

[antsp]

If you look at the deck plans there is nothing of interest above where the stairs finish, not sure what was going through the designers mind.

[srpilo]

The Grand has the same short coming, and yet all subsequent Grand Class ship's were corrected.

 

 

Perhaps that will happen once again with the Regal (?)

Srpilo

[jackieo]

We were midships and just got off the ship this morning. Deck 8. When you waited for lifts a lot of them were already full when they got to us and the ship did not sail full. I believe 2,600 pax. We would not book midships on this ship. - aft seems the best as the stairs are set very far back and it is not a long walk to the elevators, even from the very last cabin. However the front elevators are positioned way back from the front cabins so a long long walk from those to the stairs or lifts.

[PescadoAmarillo]

Not saying that you are wrong, but it is hard to see where the cost savings are. Materials? The void of the stairwell is now filled with something, so it can't be that. Savings during cruises? Can't be that either as it doesn't cost anything to "operate" a stairwell. Placement of revenue-generating venues where the stairs would have been? No. They didn't do that as the elevators are still in place. This really is a quizzical decision especially if one tries to link it to financial considerations.

I agree. The cost to finish out that stairwell to passenger-space standards would be extremely minimal relative to the total cost of the ship. But, then, they've never gone back and opened up the central staircase on the Grand to passenger use either, have they? What would make a staircase be more valuable for crew use only rather than passenger use, especially when there are those large crew elevators right there? That's the question.

 

I'm perplexed.

[antsp]

i think maybe passengers may just start using the crew stairs out of frustration, if things are bad when theres a 1000 passengers short as on this 2 day sailing.

[tothemall&beyond]

i think maybe passengers may just start using the crew stairs out of frustration, if things are bad when theres a 1000 passengers short as on this 2 day sailing.

 

Think they're just for emergencies and are kept locked. Inconvenient and not as safe as sip could/should be. Why? For a few more inside cabins on each deck?

Oh, Princess... between this and the staircase from the casino which will let smoke waft up to Promenade deck shops, and not enough pool, several poor design/passenger comfort decisions.

We're booked for the April TA, but may have to reconsider...

[paul929207]

Sorry to hear there is no central staircase. That was our biggest complaint on the Grand earlier this year

[pegpowell]

I don't think I would like that. I usually use the stairs between 5, 6, and 7. I sure noticed the difference on the Grand.

[billco]

Think they're just for emergencies and are kept locked. Inconvenient and not as safe as sip could/should be. Why? For a few more inside cabins on each deck?

Oh, Princess... between this and the staircase from the casino which will let smoke waft up to Promenade deck shops, and not enough pool, several poor design/passenger comfort decisions.

We're booked for the April TA, but may have to reconsider...

After looking at eZAir airfares that opened up today for the April TA, I am strongly considering changing my booking from Royal to Emerald. All these disappointments with the Royal are adding up.

[smoosh21]

Be thankful there are at least elevators in the central section, at least according to the deck plan.

 

Major design flaw of Celebrity's Solstice-Class vessels are no stairs or elevators in the mid-section of the ships.

 

I don't know if I would call it a flaw as most Royal ships only have two sets of Elevators also. I would guess it was engineered this way on purpose.

 

A big difference is the way that Royal/Celebrity build their dining rooms. The Galley is at the back of the ship which pushes the dining rooms further forward. There would be no place to put elevators or stairs toward the back of the ship.

so the rear stairs are actually somewhere between midship and 2/3rds of the way back.

 

But, I think not having stairs near an elevator bank is a bad design

[jagoffee]

Be thankful there are at least elevators in the central section, at least according to the deck plan.

 

Major design flaw of Celebrity's Solstice-Class vessels are no stairs or elevators in the mid-section of the ships.

 

Relative to Solstice class ship it is more like there are no elevators or stairs in the Aft section. They are closer to the midsection. There are stairways next to both set of elevators. Personally I have never found this to be a problem. I consider the Elevator/stairs to actually be in the mid section. Since you have mentioned it I assume that you have cruised on Celebrity Solstice Class ship. Your comment in the first I have heard that the elevators are not in the mid section. Many complaints concerning the lack of stairs/elevators in the Aft section.

[Woobstr112G]

While I am missing things like the promenade and bigger balconies, not having a central staircase really doesn't bother me. Just my two cents.....:):):)

Bob

[MauiLvrs]

It was bad enough that they eliminated all outside non-balcony cabins...

Not to worry too much ... turn out the balcony cabins aren't much of a balcony cabin either :eek:

Just a sliding door with a ledge :confused:

[Pam in CA]

Not to worry too much ... turn out the balcony cabins aren't much of a balcony cabin either :eek:

Just a sliding door with a ledge :confused:

Yup. That's why I booked an inside for the first time in years for my September 2014 Royal cruise. The difference between the best inside and the lowest balcony was over $2,000. I couldn't justify spending that much more.